Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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"A PACIFIER, A SYSTEM AND A METHOD FOR MAINTAINING
PROPER DENTITIONS"
This application claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Application Serial No.: 60/412,454, filed
September 20, 2002.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a pacifier, a
system and a method for maintaining proper dentitions in
a child. More specifically, the present invention
relates to one or more pacifiers which may be used to
prevent improper guidance of a developing dentition of a
child and ease a pain associated with teething.
It is generally known to provide a pacifier to a
child. Pacifiers are used by infants and young children
as a substitute for sucking instincts the child may
develop. However, use of a pacifier often becomes a
habit for a child. As a result, use of the pacifier may
cause defects in a developing dentition, oral formation
or facial appearance of the child.
For example, a child sucking on a pacifier may cause
constriction or narrowing of an upper jaw which often
results in a cross-bite of the dentition. Another
negative effect of pacifier usage may be protrusion of
the upper front teeth or a jaw discrepancy. An open
bite, speech problems, swallowing problems or
temporomandibular joint problems may also be negative
effects of pacifier usage.
Passive use of a pacifier, such as, for example,
during a period when the deciduous incisors are erupting,
may also cause problems, such as, for example, an
anterior open bite. If the deciduous anterior open bite
is not prevented or treated, a child may also develop a
permanent incisal open-bite at six to eight years of age
and may develop, for example, abnormal permanent
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swallowing, breathing and/or speech problems. For a
child, a period between an age of eighteen months and six
years of age is critical to developing dentitions.
Often, a poor pattern of development established during
this childhood period causes the child to have a
defective adult dentition that is nearly impossible to
correct at older ages.
A second problem associated with the use of a
pacifier is an occurrence of teething of the child. The
child may be frustrated when wearing the pacifier. The
pain may discourage the child from wearing the pacifier
and may prevent the pacifier from providing a substitute
for sucking~instincts.
A need, therefore, exists for a pacifier, a system
and a method for developing and maintaining proper
deciduous dentitions in a child wherein the pacifier
guides the incoming deciduous teeth of a child into a
normal dentition and a normal pattern of jaw development
to create an ideal environment for a later eruption of
permanent teeth after six years of age.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a pacifier, a
system and a method for maintaining proper dentitions in
a child. The present invention also relates to a method
for relieving a pain associated with teething. The
pacifier may have a bulb or false nipple that may be
connected to an external shield. A child may suck on the
bulb. An isthmus may be provided to connect the bulb and
the external shield. The child may bite down on the
connecting isthmus. The isthmus may be wider from side-
to-side and may extend laterally to encompass erupting
deciduous lateral incisors. Moreover, the isthmus may be
flat and may have a thickness which. may be less than a
thickness of connectors associated with known pacifiers.
Because the isthmus extends from the external shield to
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the bulb or false nipple, the pacifier may prevent the
child from developing, for example, an open bite or other
malocclusion.
The pacifier may have a thicker cushion at the rear
of the isthmus to contact the gums of the child when the
pacifier is worn. The isthmus may be sized from front to
back to fit between the lips, and may have a cushion or
pillow at the rear to put pressure against the gums to
relieve the pain associated with teething.
To this end, in an embodiment of the present
invention, a pacifier is provided which is worn in a
mouth of a user. The pacifier has a shield having a
substantially planar body and further having an interior
surface directed toward a rear of the mouth of the user
when the shield is worn. The pacifier also has a shelf
connected to the interior surface of the shield wherein
the shelf has a substantially planar body and wherein the
shelf is substantially U-shaped. In addition, the
pacifier has a bulb attached to the shelf wherein the
bulb has a length defined between a first end and a
second end wherein the first end is connected to the
shelf and the second end extends rearward into the mouth
and wherein a perimeter of the bulb at the first end is
less than a perimeter of the bulb at~the second end.
In an embodiment, the pacifier has a ring attached
to the shield.
In an embodiment, the pacifier has lingual tabs
integrally formed with the shelf wherein the lingual tabs
extend rearward into the mouth of the user.
In an embodiment, the pacifier has walls extending
from the shelf wherein the walls contact the interior
surface of the shield.
In an embodiment, the pacifier has a depression
within the shelf wherein the depression is substantially
U-shaped.
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In an embodiment, the pacifier has a liquid within
the shelf wherein the liquid can be heated or cooled.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a
pacifier is provided which is worn in a mouth of a user.
The pacifier has a shield having a substantially planar
body. The pacifier also has a shelf attached to the
shield wherein the shelf is substantially U-shaped and
wherein the shelf has a width defined between a first end
and a second end wherein a first portion of the shelf
between the first end and the second end has a thickness
which is less than a first thickness at the first end and
a second thickness at the second end.
In an embodiment, the pacifier has a gel stored
within the shelf wherein the gel maintains a temperature
for the shelf.
In an embodiment, the pacifier has lingual tabs
extending from the shelf.
In an embodiment, the pacifier has a second portion
between the first end and the second end wherein the
second portion is flat.
In an embodiment, the pacifier has an isthmus
connecting the shield and the shelf.
In an embodiment, the pacifier has a ring attached
to the shield.
In an embodiment, the pacifier has a bulb connected
- to the shelf wherein the bulb extends rearward into the
mouth of the user.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a
pacifier is provided which is worn in a mouth of a user.
The pacifier has a shield having a flat surface which
contacts a front of the mouth of the user when the shield
is worn. The pacifier also has a shelf attached to the
surface of the shield wherein the shelf is substantially
U-shaped and defines an interior surface. In addition,
the pacifier has lingual tabs integrally formed with the
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shelf along the interior surface wherein each of the
lingual tabs have an apex which extends rearward into the
mouth of the user.
In an embodiment, the pacifier has a bulb attached
to the shelf wherein the bulb has a first end connected
to the shelf and a second end wherein the first end has
a first thickness which is less than a second thickness
at the second end.
In an embodiment, each of the lingual tabs extends
downward into the mouth.
In an embodiment, the pacifier has the shelf has a
substantially planar body.
In an embodiment, the shield is constructed from a
light-absorbent material.
In an embodiment, the shelf has a depression wherein
the depression is substantially U-shaped.
In an embodiment, the pacifier has a liquid stored
within the shelf wherein the liquid maintains a
temperature for the shelf.
It is, therefore, an advantage of the present
. invention to provide a pacifier, a system and a method
for maintaining proper dentitions in a child which may
prevent formation of an anterior open bite in a deciduous
dentition and subsequently in a permanent dentition.
Another advantage of the present invention is to
provide a pacifier, a system and a method for maintaining
proper dentitions in a child which may prevent formation
of an abnormal swallowing habit by an anterior tongue
thrust swallowing pattern.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a pacifier, a system and a method for maintaining
proper dentitions in a child which may prevent formation
of a protruded maxilla (upper jaw) and/or a retruded
mandible (lower jaw) and/or a combination of both.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
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provide a pacifier, a system and a method for maintaining
proper dentitions in a child which may prevent formation
of a retruded mandible and may not cause a protruded
maxilla.
Still another advantage of the present invention is
to provide a pacifier, a system and a method for
maintaining proper dentitions in a child which may
prevent mandibular displacement.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is to
provide a pacifier, a system and a method for maintaining
proper dentitions in a child which may prevent
temporomandibular joint problems.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a pacifier, a system and a method for maintaining
proper dentitions in a child which may prevent restricted
eruption of upper and/or lower incisors.
Another advantage of the present invention is to
provide a pacifier, a system and a method for maintaining
proper dentitions in a child which may prevent maxillary
protrusion and may not cause a retruded mandible.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a pacifier, a system and a method for maintaining
proper dentitions in a child which may prevent a lack of
mandibular growth and/or development.
A still further advantage of the present invention
is to provide a pacifier, a system and a method for
maintaining proper dentitions in a child which may
prevent abnormal speech patterns, namely, lisping caused
by improper tongue positions during the pronunciation of
fricatives.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is to
provide a pacifier, a system and a method for maintaining
proper dentitions in a child which may prevent a cross-
bite of posterior teeth and/or anterior teeth.
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Another advantage of the present invention is to
provide a pacifier, a system and a method for maintaining
proper dentitions in a child which may prevent excessive
lingual inclination of lower anterior teeth.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a pacifier, a system and a method for maintaining
proper dentitions in a child which may prevent excessive
labial inclination of upper anterior teeth.
Another advantage of the present invention is to
provide a pacifier, a system and a method for maintaining
proper dentitions in a,child which may prevent thumb
and/or finger sucking and/or other sucking habits.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a pacifier, a system and a method for maintaining
proper dentitions in a child which may prevent facial
deformities.
Another advantage of the present invention is to
provide a pacifier, a system and a method for maintaining
proper dentitions in a child which may prevent pain
during eruption of deciduous incisors.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a pacifier, a system and a method for maintaining
proper dentitions in a child which may prevent pain
during eruption of deciduous canines and/or first molars.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is to
provide a pacifier, a system and a method for maintaining
proper dentitions in a child which may prevent pain
during eruption of deciduous second molars.
Another advantage of the present invention is to
provide a pacifier, a system and a method for maintaining
proper dentitions in a child wherein a pacifier may be
designed to be locatable in a dark environment.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a pacifier, a system and a method for maintaining
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proper dentitions in a child which may prevent abnormal
chewing and/or digestion.
And, another advantage of the present invention is
to provide a pacifier, a system and a method for
maintaining proper dentitions in a child which may
prevent abnormal breathing through a mouth of the child.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a pacifier, a system and a method for maintaining
proper dentitions in a child which may prevent crying and
fussing associated with pacifier use and/or teething of
the child.
Additional features and advantages of the present
invention are described in, and will be apparent from,
the detailed description of the presently preferred
embodiments and from the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a known
pacifier.
Figures 2 illustrates a perspective view of a
pacifier in an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 illustrates a side perspective view of the
pacifier of Figure 2.
Figure 4A illustrates a side view of a facial
profile in an improper dentition.
Figure 4B illustrates a side view of a facial
profile in a normal dentition.
Figure 5A illustrates a front occlusal view of a
child having an anterior open bite.
Figure 5B illustrates a front occlusal view of a
child having a normal dentition.
Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of a
pacifier in an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 7 illustrates a side occlusal view of upper
teeth and lower teeth of a child.
Figure 8 illustrates a side view of a pacifier in an
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embodiment of the present invention.
Figure ,9A illustrates a perspective view of a
pacifier in an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 9B illustrates a perspective view of a
pacifier/teething appliance in an embodiment of the
present invention.
Figure 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the
pacifier and/or teething appliance of Figure 9B.
Figure 11 illustrates a perspective view of a
pacifier and/or teething appliance in another embodiment
of the present invention.
Figure 12A illustrates a cross-sectional view of a
dental appliance and/or teething appliance in an
embodiment of the present invention along the line A-A.
Figure 12B illustrates a cross-sectional view of a
pacifier and/or teething appliance in an embodiment of
the present invention along the line C-C.
Figure 12C illustrates a cross-sectional view of a
pacifier and/or teething appliance in an embodiment of
the present invention at a midline.
Figure 13 illustrates a perspective view of a
pacifier and/or teething appliance in an embodiment of
the present invention.
Figure 14A illustrates a cross-sectional view at the
molars of a child having a normal width of an upper jaw.
Figure 14B illustrates a cross-sectional view at the
molars of a child having a narrow width of an upper jaw.
Figure 15 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a
pacifier and/or teething appliance in an embodiment of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED
' EMBODIMENTS
The present invention relates to a pacifier, a
system and a method for maintaining proper dentitions in
a child. The pacifier may have a bulb which may be
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connected to an external shield. An isthmus, or
connector, may be provided to connect the bulb and the
external shield. A child may bite down on the bulb and
the connector when the pacifier is worn in the mouth.
Known pacifiers may have a rounded connector. However,
the isthmus provided in the present invention may be flat
and may have a thickness which may be less than a
thickness of connectors associated with the known
pacifiers. As a result, when a child uses the pacifier
of the present invention, the reduced thickness of the
isthmus may prevent the child from developing, for
example, an open bite or other malocclusion.
Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals
refer to like parts, Figure 1 illustrates a known
pacifier 2 which may be used by a child during a period
between birth to approximately two to four years of age.
The pacifier 2 has a bulb 8 which the child sucks on.
The pacifier 2 also has an external shield 6 connected to
the bulb 8 by a rounded connector 4 which the child often
bites upon.
The pacifier 2 may prevent a child from sucking
habits, such as, for example, placing fingers or a thumb
within the mouth. Between the age of six months and nine
months, the first deciduous incisors of the child,
specifically the upper and lower centrals, may begin to
erupt. However, use of the pacifier 2 may stop the first
deciduous incisors from fully erupting into the mouth due
to a thickness 5 of the rounded connector 4. Upper
lateral deciduous incisors and lower lateral deciduous
incisors may erupt from a time period between the ages of
nine month and twelve months. Use of the pacifier 2 may
also stop the upper lateral deciduous incisors and the
lower lateral deciduous incisors from erupting
completely, and from assuming an upright position caused
by the rounded connector 4.
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At a time when a child is eighteen months old, the
upper deciduous canines and the lower deciduous canines
and/or the first deciduous molars erupt and are allowed
to erupt more completely without any interference because
of an absence of the connector 4 present between the
upper canines and the lower canines and molars. If the
connector 4 is present in the pacifier 2, the connector
may interfere with eruption of the upper incisors and the
lower incisors. Therefore, the canines and the molars
erupt more completely than the incisors which enhance an
anterior open bite. As a result, a child using the
pacifier 2 of Figure 1 may have an anterior open bite 52,
such as that illustrated in Figure 5A. Prolonged use of
the pacifier 2 may also prevent the lower jaw from
developing in a forward direction. A child may then have
a facial profile 141, illustrated in Figure 4A, wherein
a jaw relation 142 may have a protrusion of the upper
front teeth. Moreover, the jaw relation 142 may have a
jaw discrepancy where the upper and lower jaws have a
greater distance between them than should normally be
present in a normal jaw relation 146, illustrated in
Figure 4B. The discrepancy may be the result of a
forward position of the upper jaw, or a rearward position
of the lower jaw, or any combination of both.
Use of the pacifier 2 may cause an abnormal relation
between the upper jaw and the lower jaw at a time when
the canines and/or the first deciduous molars of the
child erupt into place. The abnormal jaw relation 142
may be referred to as a Class II jaw relation 142. The
canines and/or first deciduous molars may erupt, settle
into place and become intercuspated. As a result, the
child may have a receded lower jaw relation with the
upper jaw. The receded lower jaw relation remains
consistent throughout the life of the child and through
adulthood unless corrected by orthodontics or surgery.
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Use of the pacifier 2 may also cause constriction or a
narrowing width 80 of the upper jaw, as shown by
occlusion 81 in Figure 14B. Narrowing of the upper jaw
may result in a cross-bite 84 of the dentition of the
child. A normal bite 83 of molars 85 with a normal arch
width 82 is illustrated in Figure 14A.
Figure 2 illustrates a pacifier 10 of the present
invention. The pacifier 10 may be used by the child, for
example, at the age of six months. The pacifier 10 may
serve as a replacement for the pacifier 2 illustrated in
Figure 1. The pacifier 10 may have a shelf 12 which may
have a thickness 14. In an embodiment, the thickness 14
may be equal or thinner than the thickness 5 of the
connector 4 of the pacifier 2 illustrated in Figure 1.
Preferably, the thickness 14 of the shelf 12 is less than
the thickness 5 of the connector 4. Figure 3 ilustrates
a side perspective view of the pacifier 10. The shelf 12
may control eruption of the upper deciduous central
incisors and the lateral incisors and/or the lower
deciduous central incisors and the lateral incisors of
the child from an age of, for example, six months to
eighteen months.
In an embodiment, an external shield 15 of the
pacifier 10 may be identical in shape to the external
shield 6 of the pacifier 2. In addition, a nipple or a
bulb 16 of the pacifier 10 may be similar in shape,
although not necessarily identical in shape, to the
nipple or bulb 8 of the pacifier 2. As a result, the
pacifier 10 may have a similar feel within the mouth of
the child as the pacifier 2.
In an embodiment, the shelf 12 may be connected to
the external shield 15 and may extend distally into or to
the rear of the mouth of the child. The shelf 12 may or
may not cover erupting deciduous lateral incisors 32, 44
and/or central incisors 34, 42, as illustrated in Figure
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7. The shelf 12 may prevent the incisors 34, 42, 32, and
44 of the child from erupting unequally into the mouth,
providing a dentition 53 as illustrated in Figure 5A.
The open bite 52 of Figure 5A may develop as a result of
preventing the incisors 34, 42, 32, 44 from fully
erupting. When the shelf 12 is part of the improved
design, the shelf 12 may allow all eight incisors 34, 42,
32, 44 to erupt equally with a normal relation, as
illustrated by a dentition 55 in Figure 5B.
The pacifier 10 may enable full and even eruption of
the deciduous central incisors 34, 42 and the lateral
incisors 32, 44. Moreover, the pacifier 10 may begin to
advance the mandible, or lower jaw, into a more normal
Class I jaw relation 146 with the upper jaw. Such a jaw
relation 146 is generally illustrated in Figure 4B. An
abnormal jaw relation 142 is illustrated in Figure 4A.
The pacifier 10 may also enable incisors 34, 42, 32, 44
to erupt more normally, without being displaced. For
example, the upper incisors 34, 32 may be guided forward
and the lower incisors 42, 44 may be guided rearward, as
illustrated by the facial profile 141 and abnormal dental
relation 140. Moreover, use of the pacifier 10 may
provide a normal width 82 with a normal width relation 85
of the molars of the upper jaw, as generally illustrated
by ooclusion 83 in Figure 14A.
Figure 6 illustrates a pacifier 20 which may be used
by the child after the child reaches, for example,
approximately eighteen months of age. At this time,
upper deciduous canines 36 and lower deciduous canines 46
and/or first deciduous molars 38, 48 (illustrated in
Figure 7) may begin to erupt into the mouth. The
pacifier 20 may have an external shield 24 which may be
similar in size and/or shape to the external shield 6 of
the pacifier 2 and/or the external shield 15 of the
pacifier 10. The pacifier 20 may or may not have a
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nipple or bulb 26 which may or may not be similar in
shape or size to the bulb 8 of the pacifier 2 and/or the
bulb 16 of the pacifier 10. Figure 8 illustrates a
cross-sectional view of the pacifier 20. A shelf 22 may
be shaped to extend distally to the rear of the mouth of
the child when the pacifier 20 is worn. The shelf 22 may
accommodate and control an extent of the eruption of the
upper deciduous canines 36 and the lower deciduous
canines 46 and/or the deciduous first molars 38, 48 as
illustrated in Figure 7.
The pacifier 20 of Figure 6 may have lower lingual
tabs 29 to aid in maintaining the lower jaw, or mandible,
in an advanced~position while the deciduous canines and
first molars erupt. The lingual tabs 29 may form an apex
31. The teeth of the child may then obtain an ideal
intercuspation 30 as illustrated in Figure 7. Moreover,
the pacifier 20 may assist in maintaining jaw advancement
toward the Class I relation 146 and toward a normal tooth
relation 144, both illustrated in Figure 4B. The lingual
tabs 29 may or may not be present in pacifier 10 of
Figure 2. The lingual tabs 29 are illustrated in Figure
8, which is a cross section along the line B-B.
Figure 9A illustrates a pacifier 70 which may be
used by the child when the child reaches an age of, for
example, approximately 24 to 36 months of age. During
this period, upper second deciduous molar 40 and/or lower
second deciduous molar 50 (illustrated in Figure 7) may
erupt into place. The pacifier 70 may have a shelf 72
which may be shaped to extend distally towards the rear
of the mouth of the child when worn. As a result, the
pacifier 70 may control the eruption of the upper second
deciduous molar 40 and/or the lower second deciduous
molar 50.
The pacifier 70 may have a lingual shield 76 which
may assist in guiding the posterior molars 38, 40, 48, 50
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into a proper occlusion and/or may assist in correcting
a posterior cross-bite 81, such as that illustrated in
Figure 14B. The posterior cross-bite 81 may be caused by
prolonged sucking of the known pacifier 2 of Figure 1
which may draw the upper molars 38, 40 together and
narrows the upper arch 80 to produce a molar cross-bite
84. The pacifier 70 may also have a shield 78 (at a
buccal location of the pacifier 70 when the pacifier 70
is worn) to control the eruption and/or position of the
upper posterior deciduous teeth 38, 40 and the lower
posterior deciduous teeth 48, 50.
In an embodiment, the pacifier 70 may have lingual
tabs 80. In addition, the pacifier 70 may or may not
have a nipple or bulb 82 which may be similar in size
and/or shape to the bulb 8 of the pacifier 2, the bulb 16
of the pacifier 10, or the bulb 26 of the pacifier 20.
The pacifier 70 may or may not have an exterior shield 84
which may be similar in size and/or shape to the exterior
shield 6 of the pacifier 2, the exterior shield 15 of the
pacifier 10, or the exterior shield 24 of the pacifier
20. The pacifiers 10, 20 and 70 may be constructed from
a single material or a combination of materials, such as,
for example, latex, silicone, polyvinyl chloride,
polypropylene, or the like.
The pacifier 70 may be worn prior to the use of, for
example, a Nite-GuideTM and/or Occlus-0-GuideTM preformed
appliance, manufactured by ORTHOTAIN, Inc. The Nite-
GuideTM and/or Occlus-0-GuideTM appliance does not have an
exterior shield or a bulb and does not resemble a
pacifier. In an embodiment, the shield 84 and the bulb
82 of the pacifier 70 may be reduced significantly or
eliminated completely in preparation for the child to
accept the preformed Nite-GuideTM and/or Occlus-0-GuideTM
appliance. The Nite-GuideTM and/or Occlus-0-GuideTM
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appliance may straighten the teeth and further improve
jaw relations if needed or required.
In general, children at an age of approximately six
months to ten months may suffer pain when the deciduous
central incisors 34, 42 and lateral incisors 32, 44 erupt
through tissue. Children may also experience pain during
a period from twelve months to twenty months of age when
the deciduous canines 36, 46 and the first molars 38, 48
erupt. In addition, children may experience pain during
a period between eighteen months to twenty-four months
when the second deciduous molars 40, 50 erupt.
Figure 9B illustrates a pacifier and/or teething
appliance 90 which may assist in reducing the pain
experienced by children in the age range of about six
months to twenty-four months. The pacifier and/or
teething appliance 90 may have an exterior shield 92
which may be shaped similarly to the exterior shield 6 of
the pacifier 2, the exterior shield 15 of the pacifier
10, the exterior shield 24 of the pacifier 20, or the
exterior shield 84 of the pacifier 70. Further, the
pacifier 90 may have a shelf 94 which may have a shape~of
a soft shaped pillow 94 comprised of an enlarged labial
area 98 and an enlarged lingual area 94. The pillow 94
may also have a depressed or narrow area 97 between the
labial area 98 and the lingual area 99. This depressed
middle area 97 may guide the teeth 34, 42, 32, 44, 36,
46, 38, 48, 40 and 50 into the mouth in a proper labio--
lingual and bucco-lingual position and prevents an
occurrence of cross-bite. This shelf 94 may be shaped
like a pillow and may surround the entire gum area where
the incisors 34, 42, 32, 44 are erupting and causing
pain. In an embodiment, the pillow 94 may not have the
depression 97, or center constriction, but may remain
straight in shape from the labial area 98 to the lingual
area 99.
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The pillow 94 may have an interior 96 which may be
filled with, for example, a gel or liquid that may be
cooled. The gel or liquid may be of a type which may
retain a cool temperature. In an embodiment, the gel or
liquid may contain a sterile broth or like material.
Figure 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the
pacifier 90. An isthmus 110 may connect the shield 92
and the soft pillow 94 and may surround upper arch 103
and lower arch 105. In an embodiment, the pillow 94 may
not be hollow and may not contain a liquid or gel within
the interior 96 but may be constructed from a solid
material. A ring 93 may be attached to the pacifier 90
and may be constructed from a material wherein the
material enables the ring 93 to be located in a dark
environment. Moreover, any of the pacifiers 10, 20, 70,
90 and/or the rings 17, 23, 71, 93 and 117 may be
constructed from a material which may enable the
pacifiers 10, 20, 70, 90 and 110 to be located in a dark
environment.
Figure 11 illustrates a pacifier 110 which may be
used by a child that may be experiencing pain as a result
of erupting deciduous canines 36, 46 and first deciduous
molars 38, 48 . The pacifier 110 may have a flat shelf 112
to receive erupted upper incisors 32, 34 and lower
incisors 42,44. In addition, the pacifier 110 may have
a pillow area 114 to provide relief to the upper gum
tissue and the lower gum tissue for erupting deciduous
canines 36, 46 and/or first deciduous molars 38, 48. The
pillow 114 may be constructed from plastic or like
material. The pillow 114 may have an interior 115 which
may be filled with, for example, a liquid or gel. The
liquid or gel and/or the shape of the pillow may enable
the pillow 114 to adapt to a shape of the gum tissue.
The pacifier 110 may have an external shield 116.
In an alternate embodiment, the external shield 116 may
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not be present, and a retention ring 132, 130 may be
attached directly to a teething arch 128, illustrated in
cross-section along the line A-A in Figure 12C. The
retention ring 130 and 132 may be attached by a hinge 131
to the teething arch 128.
Figure 12A illustrates a cross-sectional view along
the line A-A of the pacifier 110 at the midline of the
child. The external shield 118 may be attached to the
teething arch 120 and also to the retention ring 122, 123
by a hinge 121. The external shield 116, 118, 92, 24,
15, 84 may protect the child from gagging by preventing
any pacifier and/or teething arch from slipping back into
the throat and/or may help to maintain a position of the
pacifier and/or teething arch 110 within the mouth. ~ A
first teething arch may be used by the child to relieve
pain from teething. During use of the first teething
arch, a second, duplicate or similar teething arch may be
cooled. The second teething arch may be used by the
child after the first teething arch has become warm.
In an embodiment, the shelf 112 may be shaped to
extend further into the mouth. The shelf 112 may allow
the erupted deciduous central 34, 42 and lateral 32, 44
incisors, as well the deciduous canines 36, 46 and first
deciduous molars 38, 48 to be in contact with the shelf
140. Further, the pillows 114 present in appliance 110
may be positioned further distally to cover the gum
tissue in the area of the second deciduous molars 40, 50.
The pillow 114 of appliance 110 of Figure 11 may be
separated from the external shield 116, as illustrated in
cross-section taken along line C-C in Figure 128. As
further illustrated in Figure 12B, the pillow 124 may
cover the canines 36, 46 and the first molars 38, 48 may
be separated from the external shield 126 by a space 138
to allow the lips and/or cheeks of the child to be
present without interference.
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Figure 13 illustrates a pacifier 150 having a pillow
142 which may be positioned further towards the rear of
the mouth when the pacifier/teething appliance 150 is
worn. As a result, the pillow 142 may allow the pain
from the erupting second deciduous molars 40, 50 to be
relieved. A shelf 140 may maintain the'other teeth 34,
42, 32, 44, 36, 46, 38, 48 in their normal position. A
flat isthmus 140 may be attached directly to an external
shield 152 at the midline or directly to a retention ring
148 directly.
The pacifiers 10, 20, 70, 90, 110, 150 may be used
by a child as part of a pacifier system to coincide with
development of different tooth groups in the mouth of the
child and/or as teething appliances to relieve pain. The
child may, for example, wear the pacifier 10 at any age
after birth. A teething pad 94 may be incorporated into
pacifier 10 to relieve pain and discomfort from the
eruption of the incisors 34, 42, 32, 44 (not shown).
Figure 15 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the
pacifier 90 of Figure 9B. In an embodiment, the pillow
94 may be shaped to receive the incisors 34, 42, 32, 44.
In addition, the pillow 94 may be used as a combination
pacifier and/or teething appliance and may have a bulb
162. The bulb 162 or any of the bulbs 16, 26, and 82 may
be slanted downward to encourage the tongue to be
elevated toward the palette to prevent a cross-bite 84
from developing in the patient. A top 164 of the bulb
162 may be flattened for the same effect, namely,
preventing a cross-bite 84 from occuring. In an
embodiment, the external shield 92 may be connected to
the retention ring 93 by a hinge 172.
The child may, for example, wear the pacifier 10 at
an age of nine months, when the first deciduous incisors
of the child may erupt. The child may then, for example,
wear the pacifier 20 at an age of eighteen months, when
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the upper deciduous canines and the lower deciduous
canines and/or the first deciduous molars may erupt. The
child may then, for example, wear the pacifier 70 at an
age of twenty-four to thirty-six months, when the upper
second deciduous molar and/or the lower second deciduous
molar may erupt.
It should be understood that various changes and
modifications to the presently preferred embodiments
described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the
art. Such changes and modifications may be made without
departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention and without diminishing its attendant
advantages.
